Masters of the Vortex

E. E. Smith (1890 - 1965)

"Masters of the Vortex" is a 1960 novel by E.E. "Doc" Smith which incorporates and expands upon three short stories, "The Vortex Blaster", "Storm Cloud on Deka", and "The Vortex Blaster Makes War". Somewhat confusingly, it was originally published under the title "The Vortex Blaster", the same name as the first short story, before being republished as "Masters of the Vortex". It is the final novel, or a spinoff, of The Lensmen stories. It follows the adventures of Neal "Storm" Cloud, a brilliant mathematician who makes it his personal mission to snuff out wiild nuclear vortexes all over the galaxy, at great risk to his own safety. He visits multiple alien worlds and their intelligent species, and gains a crew and a protege. Can he successfully destroy the nuclear vortexes? And are all of them random occurrences, or are they being used for nefarious means? (Summary by Harley James)

Genre(s): Action & Adventure Fiction, Science Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Chapter 1: Catastrophe Harley James
00:20:01
Play 02 Chapter 2: Cloud Blasts a Vortex Harley James
00:20:11
Play 03 Chapter 3: Cloud Loses an Arm Harley James
00:21:42
Play 04 Chapter 4: Storm Cloud on Deka Harley James
00:27:41
Play 05 Chapter 5: The Boneheads Harley James
00:14:22
Play 06 Chapter 6: Driving Jets are Weapons Harley James
00:34:45
Play 07 Chapter 7: The Blaster Acquires a Crew Harley James
00:16:33
Play 08 Chapter 8: Vesta the Vegian Harley James
00:26:20
Play 09 Chapter 9: Trouble on Tominga Harley James
00:23:01
Play 10 Chapter 10: Janowick Harley James
00:13:42
Play 11 Chapter 11: Joan the Telepath Harley James
00:24:25
Play 12 Chapter 12: Vesta Practices Spaceal Harley James
00:12:50
Play 13 Chapter 13: Games Within Games Harley James
00:34:25
Play 14 Chapter 14: Vesta the Gambler Harley James
00:20:18
Play 15 Chapter 15: Joan and Her Brains Harley James
00:24:41
Play 16 Chapter 16: Vegian Justice Harley James
00:27:57
Play 17 Chapter 17: The Call Harley James
00:28:09
Play 18 Chapter 18: Cahuita Harley James
00:20:44